How a Special Ops Plastic Surgeon Became "Dr. Waterproofing" for the Fisker Ocean cover art

How a Special Ops Plastic Surgeon Became "Dr. Waterproofing" for the Fisker Ocean

How a Special Ops Plastic Surgeon Became "Dr. Waterproofing" for the Fisker Ocean

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 In this episode of Ocean Currents, hosts Bill and Miles sit down with Dr. Eric Helling – a former Army plastic surgeon and ex–Special Ops flight surgeon. Eric shares a remarkable journey that connects:
  • Combat surgery and facial reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan
  • The real human cost of oil-driven conflicts
  • His decision to transition from Corvettes and gas cars to EVs, including the Chevy Volt, Tesla Model 3 Performance, Tesla Model S Plaid, and finally the Fisker Ocean
You'll hear:
  • Why Eric, living north of Augusta, Georgia in a rural area with limited cell service, decided to buy what he calls an "orphan car" during the Fisker Ocean fire sale
  • How his background in complex problem solving, systems thinking, and surgery carries over to diagnosing and fixing design flaws in the Ocean's water management
  • A deep dive into Fisker Ocean waterproofing:
    • How he used an endoscope to trace unexpected water paths from the windshield and cowl
    • The role of the frame support rail "aqueduct" in directing water straight onto critical connectors
    • Simple but effective fixes: pool noodles + HVAC tape, re‑drilling cowl drain holes, sealing fender liner gaps, and blocking the VSP speaker opening
    • His view on which mitigations are "must-do" for long-term ownership vs. "nice-to-have" for power users
Eric also reflects on:
  • Losing friends in combat and realizing how oil revenues help fund terrorism and conflict, which pushed him hard toward EVs
  • Why he believes "don't burn oil and you can have your cake and eat it too"
  • The power of the Fisker Owners Association (FOA) as a volunteer, NGO-like community, and why setting realistic expectations is critical as the cars age
Finally, Miles and Bill share their own paths to EV ownership, solar-powered homes, and why driving EVs "feels like what we imagined driving would be like as kids." Links & Resources
  • Eric's YouTube channel (ESrandl): Tutorials on Fisker Ocean waterproofing and inspections
  • Fisker Owners Association (FOA): Community support, resources, and technical discussions
  • FOA Discourse / Forums: Active threads on waterproofing, VSP box fixes, turn signal water ingress, and more
If you own a Fisker Ocean or are just fascinated by how a high-stakes medical career can lead to deep technical tinkering on EVs, this episode is for you.
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